Closure cap for an automotive radiator

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a closure cap ( 10 ) for a stationary reservoir neck, especially of an automotive radiator. Said cap has a cap outer part ( 16 ) and a cap inner part ( 15 ), and the cap outer part ( 16 ) comprises a closure element ( 17 ) for the reservoir neck and a grip element ( 18 ) that permits it to be rotated relative thereto. A torsional stop ( 19 ) is provided between the grip element and the closure element ( 17 ) of the cap inner part ( 16 ). The cap inner part ( 15 ) comprises a fluid connection between the reservoir interior and the reservoir exterior and a valve arrangement ( 11 ) for releasing and locking said fluid connection. The torsional stop ( 19 ) that can be/is engaged under the action of a spring can be disengaged by a thermally or pressure-controlled drive ( 14 ), thereby making it possible to adapt the temperature or the pressure prevailing in the reservoir interior to that of the torsional stop of the closure cap in a simple manner and without inadmissibly high heat losses.

The invention relates to a closure cap for a fixed neck of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

In such a closure cap known from DE 197 53 597 A1, the twist-prevention device between the closure element and the grip element is constituted by an axial coupling bolt, which is acted upon by a spring arrangement which operates as a function of the temperature.

In connection with a further closure cap known from DE 199 23 775 A1, the twist-prevention device is constituted by a strap, which is axially movable and is arranged inside the grip element and can be operated by a thermal drive in the form of an expandable material.

In both these known cases it is difficult to transmit the actual heat in the container to the twist-prevention device, which can be affected by heat, without considerable temperature losses. This is difficult to obtain, not least because of the valve arrangement in the form of an overpressure or underpressure valve arranged in the path between the container interior and the twist-prevention device. This correspondingly also applies to those closure caps which, as already suggested, operate by means of a pressure-controlled twist-prevention device.

It is the object of the present invention to produce a closure cap for a fixed neck of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, of the type mentioned at the outset, to whose twist-prevention device, or its drive mechanism, it is possible to transmit the temperature in the container interior, or the pressure in the container interior, to the twist-prevention device, or its drive mechanism, in a simpler manner and without impermissibly high losses.

The characteristics recited in claim 1 are provided for attaining this object in connection with a fixed neck of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, of the type mentioned.

By means of the steps in accordance with the invention it has been achieved that the drive element in the form of a capsule made of an expandable material, or a diaphragm, and operating as a function of the temperature or a function of the pressure, can pick up the temperature prevailing in the container interior, or the pressure prevailing in the container interior, without losses and without delay. The transmission of the temperature or pressure conditions in the container interior can be provided via the shortest and most direct path immediately along the cap axis, without having to accept disadvantages in the effectiveness of the overpressure valve body, and in particular in the effectiveness of the underpressure valve body.

Advantageous embodiments of the transmitting element or its position are provided in accordance with the characteristics of claim 2 and/or 3. A good heat conduction, or a loss-free pressure transmission, is provided by this.

Advantageous embodiments of the pressure transmitting element ensue from the characteristics of one or several of claims 4 to 6.

By means of the characteristics in accordance with claim 7, a rest for the drive mechanism of the twist-prevention device in the shape of a capsule made of an expandable material, or of the diaphragm, is provided in a simple way.

Advantageous embodiments of the twist-prevention device ensue from the characteristics of claim 8 and/or 9.

An advantageous arrangement, or embodiment, of the underpressure valve is achieved by means of the characteristics of claim 10 and/or 11.

Further details of the invention can be found in the description which follows, wherein the invention is described in greater detail and explained by means of exemplary embodiments represented in the drawings. Shown are in:

FIG. 1, a schematic representation in longitudinal section of a closure cap for a motor vehicle radiator with a pressure controlled twist-prevention device in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the right and left half sections respectively represent one of the two end positions, and

FIG. 2, a representation corresponding to FIG. 1, but with a closure cap with a temperature controlled twist-prevention device in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The closure cap 10 or 110, represented in the drawings by means of two exemplary embodiments, has an overpressure/underpressure valve arrangement 11 or 111, which has an overpressure valve body 12 or 112 and an underpressure valve body 13 or 113, which are identical in all exemplary embodiments. The opening pressure of the overpressure valve body 12, 112 is fixedly set by means of a helical pressure spring 44, 144, and the underpressure valve body 13, 113 also by means of a helical pressure spring 66, 166.

In accordance with the representation in the drawings, the outer lid 16 or 116, which is identical in all exemplary embodiments, of the closure cap 10 or 110 has a closure element 17, 117, which is here in the form of an exterior thread element for screwing the closure cap onto or off the opening of a neck, not represented here, of a motor vehicle radiator or other container, and a grip element 18, 118, which is rotatable in relation to the closure element 17, 117, and can be connected with it, fixed against relative rotation, by means of a twist-prevention device 19, 119, which is identical in all exemplary embodiments. A drive mechanism 14, 114 for disconnecting the twist-prevention device 19, 119 is arranged, the same as the latter itself, in a space between the grip element and the closure element 18 and 17, or 118 and 117. It is understood that the closure element 17, 117 can also be embodied as a quarter-turn fastener instead of as an exterior thread element.

The closure element 17, 117 has an intermediate bottom 21, 121 provided with an axial opening, from whose underside a sleeve 23, 123 with an exterior thread, and from whose top a connecting sleeve 24, 124 project axially, by means of whose radial flange 22, 122 the closure element 17, 117 is rotatably maintained at the grip element 18, 118, but is kept suspended axially immovable. The grip element 18, 118 extends underneath the outer edge of the flange 22, 122 of the connecting sleeve 24, 124 of the closure element 17, 117 and has in its center a guide ring 25, 125, which projects axially inward and within which a pressure spring 26, 126 is received, whose one end is supported on the inside of the grip element 18, 118, and its other end on a blocking plate 27, 127 of the twist-preventing element 19, 119. The blocking plate 27 is connected, fixed against relative rotation but axially displaceably, with the grip element 18, 118 at holding fingers 28, 128, which are located radially at the outside in respect to the guide ring 25, 125 and extend axially toward the interior. On its outer circumference, the blocking plate 27, 127 has axially downward bent claws 29, 129 which, in their initial position (right half-section), engage axial grooves 31, 131 in the intermediate bottom 21, 121 of the closure element 17, 117, so that in this position the twist-preventing element 19, 119 is connected, fixed against relative rotation, not only with the grip element 18, 118, but also with the closure element 17, 117, which allows the closure cap to be screwed onto or off the not represented container neck. As will still be shown, the twist-preventing element 19, 119 can be axially moved against the action of the pressure spring 26, 126 in such a way that the claws 29, 129 are released from the grooves 31, 131 (left half-section), so that the rotating connection between the twist-prevention element 19, 119 and the closure element 17, 117 is released, which results in a free-wheeling rotation of the grip element 18, 118 on the closure element 17, 117 and prevents the unscrewing of the closure cap 10, 110 from the container neck.

An inner cap element 15, 115, which holds the overpressure/underpressure valve arrangement 11, 111, is suspended from the closure element 17, 117 of the outer cap element 16 or 116 in such a way that the inner cap element 15, 115 is axially immovable in respect to the outer cap element 16, 116, but can be rotated in the circumferential direction. The inner cap element 15, 115 has a valve cup 36, 136, which is suspended from the closure element 17, 117 and has radial flow-through openings, not represented. An intermediate bottom 38, 138 of the valve cup 36, 136 is provided with a central opening 39, 139, around which an annular sealing face 41, 141 is provided, which is axially raised toward the interior. The overpressure valve body 12, 112 rests with the radially outer sealing face 42, 142 of a sealing diaphragm 43, 143 on the annular sealing face 41, 141 by means of the action of the pressure spring 42, 142, which has a defined pre-stress. The overpressure valve body 12, 112 is approximately hat-shaped, wherein the sealing diaphragm 43, 143 is received inside of its brim, which is axially bent inward toward the intermediate bottom 38, 138.

The drive mechanism 14, 114 for the twist-preventing element 19, 119 is arranged between the blocking plate 27 and the intermediate bottom 21, 121. The drive mechanism 14 is provided with a linearly extending transmitting element 54, 154, which extends along the closure cap axis 55, 155, penetrates the overpressure valve body 12, 112 and terminates in a lower space 47 of the valve cup 36, 136, which is connected via a bottom opening 48 with the non-represented container. The transmitting element 54, 154 is used for transmitting the pressure or temperature conditions in the container interior to the pressure-controlled or thermally-controlled drive mechanism 14, 114 of the twist-preventing element 19, 119.

The transmitting element 54, 154 is embodied in the manner of a hollow or solid rod, wherein the section facing the twist-preventing element 19, 119 has a larger diameter than the section adjoining it and terminating in the valve cup space 47 underneath the overpressure valve body 12, 112. The radially innermost sealing face 58, 158 of the sealing diaphragm 43, 143 of the overpressure valve body 12, 112 is sealingly maintained between the annular shoulder 56, 156 of the transmitting element 54, 154 formed in this way, and a stationary washer 59, 159. In the upper section of larger diameter, the transmitting element 54, 154 is used for guiding a guide sleeve 46, 146, which surrounds it, of the overpressure valve body 12, 112.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the drive mechanism is pressure-controlled, the transmitting element 54 is embodied as a hollow rod 54 with a through-bore. On the side facing away from the lower space 47, the hollow rod 54 is provided with a flange 57, which rests on the intermediate body 21 of the closure element 17. On the side of the flange 57 facing the blocking plate 27, a diaphragm 50 constituting the drive mechanism 14 is maintained, its outer circumferential side being clamped in a pressure-proof manner. In the unpressured initial position represented in FIG. 1, the diaphragm which seals the container interior in a pressure-proof manner against the grip element 18 rests centered on the flange 57 and covers the through-bore 56. In an annular area between said center area 51 and its clamped area, the diaphragm 50 is provided with an annular bulge 52, which makes possible the axial deflection of the center area 51 of the diaphragm 50.

The center area 51 of the diaphragm 50 is pressed against the flange 57 by the action of the pressure spring on the blocking plate 27.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the drive mechanism 114 is constituted by a thermo-capsule 150, which rests with its outer rim on the intermediate bottom 121 of the closure element 117, and on which the center area of the blocking plate 127 rests centered by the action of the pressure spring 126. The bottom of the thermo-capsule 150 makes a transition into the hollow thermal transmission rod 154, which is closed at the end. The thermo-capsule 150 and the hollow rod 154 contain an expandable material, which expands under the effect of heat in case of a temperature increase. The thermo-rod 154 can also be embodied as a solid rod and can transmit the heat from the container interior to the thermo-capsule 150.

The underpressure valve body 13, 113 in accordance with the two exemplary embodiments is arranged on the underside of the intermediate bottom 38, 138 of the valve cup 36, 135 eccentrically in respect to the longitudinal axis 55, 155 of the closure cap 10, 110 at a location of the annular area surrounding the center opening 39, 139. The underpressure valve body 13, 113, which can have various shapes, is arranged inside a side chamber 60, 160, which is connected with the overpressure valve chamber 37 via an opening 61, 161 in the intermediate bottom 38, 138. The side chamber 60, 160 is approximately cup-shaped, wherein the open side points toward the container interior. A horizontal intermediate plate 62, 162 is provided within the side chamber 60, 160, in whose bore the underpressure valve body 13, 113 is maintained. The underside of the intermediate plate 62, 162 is provided with a sealing washer 64, 164, on which the underpressure valve body 13 rests with is annular sealing face 65, 165 by the action of the pressure spring 66, 166, which is arranged in the side chamber portion facing the opening 61, 161 in the intermediate bottom 38, 138 between the underpressure valve body 13, 113 and the intermediate plate 62, 162. In this manner it is possible when underpressure prevails in the container interior that the underpressure valve body 13, 113 can be lifted off the sealing washer 64, 164 against the force of the pressure spring 66, 166, so that a pressure equalization takes place.

The coolant will be heated while the engine is operated, so that the temperature or the pressure rises in the container. In accordance with the left half-section of FIG. 1, the diaphragm 40 is deflected during a pressure increase by the transmitting element 54, 154, which is connected with the drive mechanism 14, 114, and is moved axially in the direction of the arrow B against the action of the pressure spring 44, while in the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2, left half-section, the expandable material is expanded because of the temperature increase and the thermo-capsule 150 expands axially in the direction of the arrow B against the action of the pressure spring 144. In both cases is the blocking plate 27, 127 lifted in the direction of the arrow B, while compressing the pressure spring 44, 144, so that the claws 29, 129 of the twist-preventing element 19, 119, or of the blocking plate 27, 127, are released out of the grooves 31, 131 of the closure element 17, 117. In this state the connection, fixed against relative rotation, between the closure element 17, 117 and the grip element 18, 118 is released, so that the grip elements 18, 118 freely rotates in respect to the closure element 17, 117. This free-wheeling connection between the grip element 18, 118 and the closure element 17, 117 prevents the unscrewing of the closure cap 10, 110 from the container neck. If normal output values for the pressure or temperature again prevail in the container interior, the twist-preventing element 19, 119 comes again into its initial position by means of the action of the pressure spring 44, 144, so that the closure cap 10, 110 can again be unscrewed because of the connection, fixed against relative rotation, between the grip element 18, 118 and the closure element 17, 117. 

1. A closure cap (10, 110) for a fixed neck of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, having an outer cap element (16, 116) and an inner cap element (15, 115), wherein the outer cap element (16, 116) has a closure element (17, 117) for the container neck and a grip element (18, 118), which can be rotated in relation to the latter, between which grasping element and the closure element (17, 117) of the outer cap element (16, 116) a twist-prevention device (19, 119) acts, wherein the inner cap element (15, 115) has a flow connection between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container and a valve arrangement (11, 111) for releasing or blocking the flow connection, which valve arrangement (11, 111) has an axially movable overpressure valve body (12, 112), which is pressed under prestress toward the interior of the container against a seal at the inner cap element (15, 115) in such a way that, when a threshold value of the interior container pressure is exceeded, it can be lifted off the seal, and an underpressure valve body (13, 113), characterized in that the twist-preventing element (19, 119), which can be engaged or is engaged, is disengaged by means of a thermally or pressure-controlled drive mechanism (14, 114) in the form of a capsule (150) made of an expandable material, or of a diaphragm (50), that the drive mechanism (14, 114) is arranged in the outer cap element (16, 116) and is provided with a linearly extending transmitting element (54, 154), which penetrates the overpressure valve body (12, 112) in the cap axis (55, 155) and extends into the area of the inner cap element (15, 115) which is connected with the neck of the container, and that the underpressure valve body (13, 113) is arranged eccentrically in respect to the cap axis (55, 155).
 2. The closure cap in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the pressure- or temperature-transmitting element (54, 154) is embodied as a hollow or solid rod, along whose exterior circumference the pre-stressed overpressure valve body (12, 112) is guided.
 3. The closure cap in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure- or temperature-transmitting element (54, 154) terminates in a lower chamber (47, 147) of the inner cap element (15, 115), which communicates with the container interior via an opening (48, 148).
 4. The closure cap in accordance with at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure-transmitting element (54) has a through-bore (56), whose outlet end, which faces away from the container, is covered by a diaphragm (50).
 5. The closure cap in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the diaphragm (50) rests with its center area (51) on the outlet side of the through-bore (56) and its circumference is clamped in a pressure-proof manner.
 6. The closure cap in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the diaphragm (50) is clamped in the circumferential area of a flange (57) at the end of the pressure-transmitting element (54).
 7. The closure cap in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner cap element (15, 115) has an intermediate bottom (21, 121) with an opening at the center, on whose top the flange (57) provided with the diaphragm (50), or the capsule (150) provided with the expanding material rests, and from whose underside the valve arrangement (11, 111) is suspended.
 8. The closure cap in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the twist-preventing element (19, 119) is constituted by an approximately U-shaped blocking plate (27, 127), whose molded center area rests on the pressure-controlled or thermally-controlled drive mechanism (14, 114).
 9. The closure cap in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the blocking plate (27, 127) is connected with the grip element (18, 118) in a manner fixed against relative rotation, but axially movable, and that the outer ends (29, 129) of the blocking plate (27, 127) dip into recesses of the closure element (17, 117).
 10. The closure cap in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular seal for the overpressure valve body (12, 112) is provided on an intermediate bottom (21, 121), having an opening in the center, of a housing (36, 136) of the valve arrangement (11, 111), and that the underpressure valve (13, 113) is arranged on a location of the underside of the annular intermediate bottom (21, 121).
 11. The closure cap in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the underpressure valve body (13, 113) is arranged in a bell-shaped chamber (60, 160) which is open toward the container and is connected through an opening (61, 161) in the intermediate bottom (38, 138) with the space of the overpressure valve chamber. 